Will steps up recovery

Will Nightingale came through 75 minutes for the development side in their Premier League Cup game at Motspur Park.

Neal Ardley and his coaching staff watched on from the stand, as two goals from George Williams in the first half gave group leaders Fulham a 2-0 victory.

Raheem Sheckleford and Mattias Kait combined well to set up Williams, who finished well from close range to give the Cottagers the early lead.

The young Dons settled though and started to string some passes together as they attempted to force Jesse Joronen in the Fulham goal into action. However, the lively Dennis Adeniran and Elijah Adebayo kept opposite number Josef Bursik alert at the other end.

With eighteen minutes on the clock, Jayden Antwi was put through on goal and slipped the ball just wide of Joronen's upright. Shortly after defender Tom Scott picked up the Dons first yellow card of the evening.

Dan Gallagher did well to break up Fulham possession just past the halfway mark of the first half and fed Antwi. The lively Dons striker, in good form for the under-18s this season, again went close with his effort. Egli Kaja added to the Dons attacking threat from midfield.

Just as though Dons were growing in confidence though, Williams notched his second with a superb, curled effort from outside the box past the outstretched Bursik.

Neset Bellikli tried to reduce the scoreline with a shot from distance that just cleared Joronen's crossbar with just over ten minutes to go.

Wimbledon continued to press leading up to half time, forcing the home side back into their half, but the scoreline remained the same at the break.

Antwi led the charge for the Dons at the start of the second half as he tested Joronen early on. Kaja imposed himself more on the game, forced his way through and should have pulled one back for Alan Reeves' side.

The visitors were now enjoying their best spell of the game. Nightingale drove forward from centre back and Johnville Renee-Pringle broke down the flank attempting to link up with Toyosi Olusanya.

As play opened up, Nightingale did well to recover his footing and get back to deny Fulham a third. Bursik then saved well from close range from Adebayo.

With fifteen minutes to go, Sean Bird and Reece Williams-Bowers replaced Nightingale and Olusanya. It had been a good workout for the popular Dons centre back as the Dons put in a much improved second half, but without reward.

Renee-Pringle collected a yellow card late on as the hosts went in search of a third goal. Bursik did well to put Williams off from getting his hat-trick, but shortly after Paul Kalambayi and Gallagher were late additions to the referee's note book.